my baby sister is 25!

don't you just love pictures of little, naked babies?

well, that little naked baby just turned 25 today! the baby of our family is not so much a baby anymore, actually she hasn't been a baby for quite some time, twenty-three years to be exact! she has grown up a lot in that time and has become a very beautiful woman, in every possible way!

growing up with a sister who is over eight years younger than you has been very different than the typical sister relationship. it was wonderful, but it evolved from one type of relationship to another over the years.

when she was born she was my "real live" baby doll! i was more than willing to help mom take care of her, what little girl doesn't love a cute baby?

it was always so much fun to set her outside in the warm sunshine, either in her diaper or in her bare nudies while the big kids ran through the sprinkler. she loved the water and was always so willing to help water the lawn!

when she was a little toddler, she wanted to be like her big brother and give baseball a try, well, actually she probably just got into his baseball stuff and wanted to try it on for size! she looks like a natural!

the best word that describes malia is sweet! if i had just half of the sweetness that she possesses i would be a much better person!

once i got into high school, malia was pretty much just my little sister. the eight plus year age gap was most noticeable at this age. we still had great fun together, but we were at such different stages in life that we did our own things.

When it started getting the most fun was once she entered college and i was married. we were both adults and out on our own. we were finally at the age where we could relate to each other. that is really when the best memories began, or maybe it's just that in my old age that's as far back as i can remember?!

here she is with lala when she was a wee little one! as you can see my kids always have loved their auntie malia! she's the best auntie ever!

when i was prego with nani i chopped off 19" of my hair and donated it to locks of love. malia, mom and i made the long drive out to valencia to the salon. we took some great before and after pictures (i can't find them at the moment) with malia as photographer, one of her many talents! a few years later malia did the same thing! she had the cutest cut ever! i wish i had been braver like her and gone shorter like she did. now we are both back to long hair.

when malia got married i was 7 months prego with kawena. however, i didn't tell her that i was expecting. when we arrived at the airport malia picked me and the girls up. it took her a few minutes before she realized that i had a big prego belly. i loved her reaction! she did a double take to my belly and pointed at it and said, "wait? what? you're pregnant?!" it was the best surprise ever!

during our sabbatical last summer we went to colorado to stay a week at mitch's grandma's cabin. malia and stuart were in albuquerque at the time. so, i drove down and brought them back up for a fun trip! we went to vallecito lake and rented a pontoon boat! this was our attempt at synchronized diving! not bad!

when we dropped them back off in albuquerque we played at malia's apartment pool. i was so sad when we had to leave them, but then again i'm always sad to leave malia!

you truly are the best sister i could ever have! thanks for being such a great example of cheerfulness and optimism. i love you more than you know! i hope this year is the best one yet!

happy birthday malia! we love you!